Prepartal dietary energy alters transcriptional adaptations of the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue of dairy cows during the transition period

Abstract

Overfeeding during the dry period may predispose cows to increased insulin resistance (IR) with enhanced postpartum lipolysis. We studied gene expression in the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of 16 Finnish Ayrshire dairy cows fed either a controlled energy diet [Con, 99 MJ/day metabolizable energy (ME)] during the last 6 wk of the dry period or high-energy diet (High, 141 MJ/day ME) for the first 3 wk and then gradually decreasing energy allowance during 3 wk to 99 MJ/day ME before the expected parturition. Tissue biopsies were collected at -10, 1, and 9 days, and blood samples at -10, 1, and 7 days relative to parturition. Overfed cows had greater dry matter, crude protein, and ME intakes and ME balance before parturition. Daily milk yield, live weight, and body condition score were not different between treatments. The High cows tended to have greater plasma insulin and lower glucagon/insulin ratio compared with Con cows. No differences in circulating glucose, glucagon, nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, and hepatic triglyceride contents were observed between treatments. Overfeeding compared with Con resulted in lower CPT1A and PCK1 and a tendency for lower G6PC and PC expression in the liver. The High group tended to have lower RETN expression in SAT than Con. No other effects of overfeeding on the expression of genes related to IR in SAT were observed. In conclusion, overfeeding energy prepartum may have compromised hepatic gluconeogenic capacity and slightly affected IR in SAT based on gene expression.

Effect of incremental amounts of camelina oil on milk fatty acid composition in lactating cows fed diets based on a mixture of grass and red clover silage and concentrates containing camelina expeller

“…Once collected, blood samples were centrifuged (15 min at 870 × g at room temperature) and plasma was stored at −20°C pending analysis for BHB, glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA; Selim et al, 2014), and acetic acid. Concentrations of acetic acid were determined by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (Waters Acquity UPLC, Waters, Milford, MA).…”

Effect of prepartal ad libitum feeding of grass silage on transcriptional adaptations of the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue in dairy cows during the periparturient period

“…Blood samples were collected at d 14.3 ± 4.98 before the actual parturition date, from the milk vein, and d 1 and 7 (±1) after parturition from the coccygeal blood vessels. The protocol of blood sampling and methods of analyzing blood BHBA and glucagon has been described in Selim et al (2014). Plasma insulin, NEFA, and glucose were measured using the methods described by Salin et al (2012).…”

“…Adipose and liver tissues were collected by biopsy at d 14.3 ± 4.98 before the actual parturition date and d 1 and 7 (±1) after parturition, as described previously by Selim et al (2014). Adipose tissue samples were snap-frozen immediately after the sampling in liquid nitrogen and stored thereafter at −80°C.…”

“…Ji et al (2012) reported that excess energy intake prepartum resulted in greater expression of ADIPOQ and led to an enhanced rather than compromised insulin signaling pathway. Selim et al (2014) observed that overfeeding energy during the first 3 wk of the dry period combined with decreasing energy allowance during the last 3 wk before parturition did not affect the expression of ADIPOQ, ADI-POQ receptors, or LEP in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of transition dairy cows. The conflicting results suggest that the role of adipokines in dairy cows during the transition period is not fully elucidated.…”

“…Murondoti et al (2004) observed that overfeeding energy during late pregnancy caused a diminished activity of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes during early lactation, and they attributed this to fatty infiltration of the liver. However, Hammon et al (2009) reported that increased liver lipid content did not impair the expression of hepatic gluconeogenic genes and Selim et al (2014) concluded that excess dietary energy intake prepartum resulted in lower expression of hepatic gluconeogenesis, whereas no differences in liver lipid content was observed. Nevertheless, based on enzyme activity and gene expression studies, overfeeding energy prepartum may negatively affect hepatic gluconeogenesis, as well as FA β-oxidation (Murondoti et al, 2004;Loor et al, 2006;Selim et al, 2014).…”